'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME I' [‎296v] (609/820)

570
NAR—NAR
bers, now all in total ruin. A round water tank, built of atone and plas
tered inside, about 10 feet in diameter, and half filled with rubbish, had at
one time no doubt afforded water to the inhabitants. The easternmost and
principal fort was about 70 yards by 60 in area. I speak roughly, for the
ground was too uneven to be paced. Its walls were about 5 feet thick, and
the interior appeared to have been principally occupied by a bui’ding or series
of buildings, consisting of seven chambers, 40 feet long by about 14 broad.
Around these, between them and the walls, there was a space of some 50 feet,
which on the south-east appears to have been vacant, but on the north-west
was filled with smaller apartments of 20 feet by 8 or 10, all now quite ruinous.
Here, too, was the principal tank, constructed of stone and cement and arched
with burnt bricks, about 20 feet long by 10 broad, and having still a depth
of 12 feet, clear of rubbish.
“ The entrance to this fort was by a gate in the stone wall, arched with
burnt bricks, and about 8 feet high under the centre of the arch. The bricks
are formed of the scanty soil of the hill, which is partly calcareous and part
ly argillaceous, and were burnt no doubt with the weeds and furze, which
it produces. They are quite square and one-and-a-half inch thick, and
the kiln in which they were burnt is still visible, though I did not go to
look at it. These two forts, which may be from 500 to 600 yards asunder,
have been joined by two w T alls embracing the neck or bridge of the hill,
enclosing a space which in some places is not above 20 yards broad and
in no part above 60, but which appears to have been studded thickly with
buildings, all small, like those in the western fort. The walls in some places
are not more than 2| to 3 feet in thickness ; others have been founded
upon the huge rocks of the mountain itself, and these have been of greater
size. The masonry work is far from good, and the cement throughout or
clay. No dressed stone is to be seen. I cannot find that either money of
antiques have been found here ; but there is plenty of broken pottery
strewn about, and arrow heads of large size, both of iron and brass, have
been picked up, much like those now in use among the Turkomans. Out-
• side the walls may be seen the vestiges of what seem to have been graves
formed much in the present . Muhammadan fashion with headstones, but
very rude. I think this is all that can be said about this place, which is
chiefly curious from its situation. That the ruins are of ancient date is not
, to be doubted ; but to determine to what period its origin or existence should
be assigned is probably impossible. In this dry climate stones remain for
centuries unchanged in external appearance ; yet 1he stones.of these budd
ings that have fallen are covered w.th yellow and grey lichens.’’-^-(Fraser)
Narinj Kaleh is the common appellation for an inner citadel, a strong
tower in a fort, etc.— [Schindler.)
NARISTANG—
A village in the Tun sub-division of the Tabas district- of Khorasan.—
(Bellew.)
NARJAN—
See Neharjan.